Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2009-10: Alexander Khokhlachev played for MHC Spartak in the Moscow Hockey League, scoring 15 goals and adding 25 assists for 40 points in 51 games. Khokhlachev also played for Russia at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, scoring 5 goals and adding 8 assists for 13 points in 6 games. He was named to the tournament's All-Star Team for his efforts. Khokhlachev was chosen first round, 23rd overall, of the 2010 CHL Import Draft by the Windsor Spitfires.

2011-12: Khokhlachev returned to Windsor for his second OHL season and was the second-leading scorer for a young Spitfires squad. He led Windsor with 25 goals and had 44 assists and was minus-19 with 32 penalty minutes in 56 games; suffering a season-ending kidney injury that forced him to miss the playoffs. Seven of the ten leading scorers for Windsor were 17 or younger, including Khokhlachev and leading scorer Kerby Rychel (a 2013 draft-eligible). Two years removed from back-to-back Memorial Cup championships. Windsor reached the OHL playoffs after finishing fourth in the West Division and were swept by eventual OHL champion London in a first round series. Khokhlachev played with Russia's silver medal-winning team at the 2012 U20 World Junior Championship and scored 4 goals with 1 assist; finishing plus-five with 6 penalty minutes in seven games.

2012-13: Khokhlachev made his North American pro hockey debut with Bruins affiliate Providence to cap an eventful season. After signing a three-year entry-level contract with Boston in July 2012, he started the season in Russia, skating with Moscow Spartak in the KHL and competing for Russia's U20 team in Ufa before returning to the OHL's Windsor Spitfires following the 2013 World Junior Championship. He scored 2 goals with 1 assist and was and even plus/minus with 8 penalty minutes in 11 AHL games. Providence finished first in the Atlantic Division and reached the second round in the playoffs but Khokhlachev saw no playoff action. In 26 KHL games with Spartak he scored 2 goals with 5 assists and had 20 penalty minutes. He scored 3 goals with 2 assists in seven games at the WJC. Russia defeated Canada, 6-5, in overtime in the bronze medal game. Khokhlachev scored 22 goals with 26 assists and was -8 with 20 penalty minutes in 29 OHL games with the Spitfires. Windsor missed the OHL playoffs, finishing last in the West Division.

Talent Analysis

Slick puck carrier, creative passer and courageous goal scorer. Khokhlachev has a knack for surveying the ice, disguising his intensions and then distributing the puck to the best option. Without the puck, he’s willing to get to the dirty areas and has an explosive release, making him a dangerous finisher as well. Defensive work is spotty, as a winger he’s prone to losing his man, as a center he struggles to read the coverage. Skating is also a mixed bag, some things he does very well; he has good acceleration, crosses over well, good top-speed, he can stop on a dime, and he’s able to shake defenders by opening up his hips, putting his skates at “3” and “9” o’clock a la Jeff Skinner, but he also lacks elite top-speed, struggles with changes in direction and with skating backwards in general.

Future

After struggling to find his game in the KHL in 2012-13, Khokhlachev returned to North America to play in the OHL. At the OHL he proved to be a premiere player, and he will look to show that this season at the pro level, in North America. He isn’t a favorite to make the big club in training camp, but he will certainly be in consideration. Koko should get top-six minutes with Providence if he doesn’t make the NHL out of camp.

Share this story

Photo: (left to right) Ryan Spooner, Dougie Hamilton, and Jared Knight are three of the Boston Bruins most promising prospects. Hamilton and Spooner have both spent time in the NHL this season. (courtesy of Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Boston Bruins have used the NHL draft, trades, and free agency to populate their prospect pool with a diverse group of players who are at various stages of their development. The emphasis recently has been on solidifying their defense and goaltending, with those two positions now deep in talent and among the strengths of the organization.

Share this story

Photo: Quebec Remparts forward and Buffalo Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko played a major role in helping Russia advance to the semi-finals of the 2013 WJC (courtesy of Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

After winning gold and silver at the last two World Junior Championships, 2013 host country Russia find themselves in a position to bring home another medal, possibly gold, in front of a home crowd.

Share this story

Photo: After playing the past three seasons in Finland, defenseman Sami Vatanen made his way to North America and currently plays for the AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. (Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Below is the middle section Hockey’s Future’s NHL Team Rankings. The teams are ranked in terms of the quality of their overall prospect pool as voted on by the staff of Hockey's Future. For reference, just the top five prospects are listed. To be eligible, a prospect must meet HF's prospect criteria. The rankings are done twice a year, with the second scheduled to be published in the Spring.

Share this story

Photo: Goaltender Andrey Makarov, signed by the Buffalo Sabres in September, sealed Team Russia's Subway Super Series victory with a pair of stellar performances in the tournament's final leg. (courtesy of Derek Leung/Getty Images)

In the first edition of On the Rush for the 2012-13 season, we take a look at prospects either excelling at their respective levels of play as well as those players who are not quite living up to expectations. This month we take a look at how the NHL lockout is impacting prospects playing in the minor leagues and junior levels and also discuss several top performers from the recent Subway Super Series between Team Russia and the CHL's top players.

Share this story

Photo: Winger Jared Knight has made his professional debut this season, playing for the Providence Bruins of the AHL. (Michael Tureski/Icon SMI)

Outside of Tyler Seguin, the Boston Bruins have not had much to show for their efforts at the draft table under General Manager Peter Chiarelli. Jordan Caron is the only other player drafted by Chiarelli with more than a dozen NHL games played, and even he has not cemented himself a place in Boston's lineup yet. However there is reason for optimism, defenseman Dougie Hamilton is one of the best prospects in the world and the Bruins have one of the deepest and most talented stable of goaltending prospects in the NHL.